The Role Of Flappers In The 1920's

“Then came the war, old sport. It was a great relief, and I tried very hard to die, but I seemed to bear an enchanted life.” This quote is taken from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, written pre-World War I. Because the Victorian era was so strict, many started looking for an escape from the depressed environment they lived in. This struggle can be clearly seen in the 1920’s, when young girls were looking for a voice. Searching for individuality, an influx of prosperity occurred throughout the decade of the 1920’s. Flappers caused women to develop into a strong female population; rebellion and transformations made to society greatly impacted the future to come. The sporatic actions of the female youth, during the 1920’s, enabled Flappers
Searching, a young flapper was on the pursuit of happiness and finding the American dream--post war, claimed Ellen Welles Page in “A Flapper’s appeal to Parents”. This new generation decided that they needed a new culture. Growing up, Flappers endured the hardships experienced during the end of the war, these young children wanted a revolution. How do you reconstruct a society? Rebellion, further explained in “Flappers in the 1920’s”. The young people started the nation’s first “cultural war”. “Before [them] stretched the outstanding, menacing road of a new decade.” Page 35. The Victorians, practicing chaste and desire tried to tackle the Flappers who lied about their casual sex life and drank alcohol during Prohibition ( Page, Coronet,). Thoughts among a flapper were almost always along the lines of, “You never know until you try!”, and try they did(“Flappers in the 1920’s”)! These very spontaneous spirits enjoyed the freedom after war. Leading by example, these developing minds believed everybody should be easy-going and happy. “Anything goes”, in a flappers mind. These pleasure seekers took to sex, and alcohol as the first act of rebellion. Portrayed by the media, sex is the most pleasurable act, and became very stylish. Among flappers, sex became attractive; sexual beings became
A goal of the flappers was to start feminism. Changing the way society viewed women was the tip of the iceberg for the avalanche to come. Defying modesty and religion, Victorian roles set the foundation of rebellion in others’ minds (Page, “A Flapper’s appeal to Parents”). The revolution had begun. Needing and wanting their own views, expressions, and ideas demonstrates the hunger women craved for their rights. With gender roles being challenged, women not only began to work, but began to work together against the patriarchy(“Flappers in the 1920’s”). Without the right to vote, the tension from the inequality just kept building, until together, the feat was conquered in 1920. With every great revolution comes organized crime. The Great Gatsby has one focal character that is deeply involved with the drug business and the crime that accompanied. Wolfsheim witnessed a murder of a man as he explains, and “his eyes, meanwhile, roved very slowly all around the room”69. The author also notes this with double dashes showing that Wolfsheim is very cautious because of all the risky business he participates in. Flappers drank illegal alcoholic beverages for the buzz and euphoria that came along with it. In doing so, Junior women began dabbling in the world of a man for equality and respect. Suppressing the revolution, parents attempted to reduce the influence that the outside world was pushing